George Joseph Antonucci Jr.

10/20/1939 - 01/21/2026

Mr. George Joseph Antonucci, Jr. passed away on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, after a long illness. Born in Everett, Massachusetts in 1939, he was the son of the late George Joseph Antonucci, Sr. and Ann Patricia Antonucci. He graduated from Everett High School, was honored with a National Science Foundation Grant to attend college. He received a Bachelors Degree and a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. While he was a graduate student he designed a component for the first US nuclear submarine under the direction of Admiral Hyman Rickover, the father of the US nuclear navy.
His entire career focused on nuclear power related issues. In the early 1970's he and a close friend started their own consulting firm which they later sold to a large firm in the Washington, DC area. He and his family moved there in the late 70's. He travelled around the country extensively on business, if he was going somewhere nice he would often bring his family.
His company owned a small business in Columbia and he and his family were relocated here in the late 1980's. He as eventually hired by Chem-Nuclear Systems to oversee the low-level nuclear waste disposal program here in SC. He bought a house in the Spring Valley subdivision in Northeast Columbia. He was able to spend more time on one of his passions golf. He joined Spring Valley Country Club and was a member there for over 25 years.
He was a member of the American Nuclear Society (ANS), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and was a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Massachusetts.
After he retired he spent many hours on the golf course and started to do some personal traveling, mostly in the western hemisphere, he never did get to Europe or Asia.
He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Sheila, son Craig and his four children, Haddon, Cade, Addisen and Paxton, his daughter Cheryl, DVM and his brother James.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family.